loveme4whoiam
25th January 2007, 10:16
Schools in England should teach "core British values" alongside cultural diversity, a report will say.
A review of how schools teach citizenship and diversity found there was not enough emphasis on British identity and history.
The study, by Sir Keith Ajegbo, says pupils should be taught more about what binds them together.
Education Secretary Alan Johnson will say schools should "play a leading role in creating community cohesion".
He will say it will be compulsory for secondary school pupils up to the age of 16 to learn about shared values and life in the UK in their citizenship lessons.
British values
Ahead of the unveiling of the plans, Mr Johnson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme how he defined "Britishness".
"It involves the values that we hold very dear in Britain which is free speech, which is tolerance, which is respect for the rule of law," he said.
Sir Keith, a former head teacher of a London school and Home Office adviser, has concluded that pupils should be taught more about the history of Britain and about how British values of tolerance and respect developed.
He was asked to look at how the subject of "Citizenship" was being taught in schools. It became compulsory in England's secondary schools in 2002.
Last year schools inspectors Ofsted said the subject was taught badly in one in four schools in England.
Sir Keith's report, which was commissioned by the government, will say more needs to be done to engage white, particularly working-class pupils, with the issue of diversity.
It will say white pupils can feel disenfranchised as much as pupils from other ethnic backgrounds.
"Many indigenous white pupils have negative perceptions of their own identity," it will say.
"It makes no sense in our report to focus on minority ethnic pupils without trying to address and understand the issues for white pupils. It is these white pupils whose attitudes are overwhelmingly important in creating community cohesion.
"Nor is there any advantage in creating confidence in minority ethnic pupils if it leaves white pupils feeling disenfranchised and resentful."
Slavery
The compulsory lessons in shared values for secondary school pupils which will be confirmed by Mr Johnson will include history topics.
At the moment, history is optional after the age of 14. The historical lessons could include topics such as slavery and the movement towards votes for all.
Mr Johnson will say Britain is a nation built from and by people from other countries.
"I believe passionately that schools can and should play a leading role in creating greater community cohesion and combating ignorance of other countries, religions and cultures," he will say.
"By 2010 one in five pupils in our schools will be from an ethnic minority - this is a challenge but also an opportunity to instil a culture of understanding and tolerance at an early age.
"The values our children learn at school will shape the kind of country Britain becomes."
BBC News article (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/6294643.stm)
In a word: ridiculous.
A review of how schools teach citizenship and diversity found there was not enough emphasis on British identity and history.
The study, by Sir Keith Ajegbo, says pupils should be taught more about what binds them together.
Education Secretary Alan Johnson will say schools should "play a leading role in creating community cohesion".
He will say it will be compulsory for secondary school pupils up to the age of 16 to learn about shared values and life in the UK in their citizenship lessons.
British values
Ahead of the unveiling of the plans, Mr Johnson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme how he defined "Britishness".
"It involves the values that we hold very dear in Britain which is free speech, which is tolerance, which is respect for the rule of law," he said.
Sir Keith, a former head teacher of a London school and Home Office adviser, has concluded that pupils should be taught more about the history of Britain and about how British values of tolerance and respect developed.
He was asked to look at how the subject of "Citizenship" was being taught in schools. It became compulsory in England's secondary schools in 2002.
Last year schools inspectors Ofsted said the subject was taught badly in one in four schools in England.
Sir Keith's report, which was commissioned by the government, will say more needs to be done to engage white, particularly working-class pupils, with the issue of diversity.
It will say white pupils can feel disenfranchised as much as pupils from other ethnic backgrounds.
"Many indigenous white pupils have negative perceptions of their own identity," it will say.
"It makes no sense in our report to focus on minority ethnic pupils without trying to address and understand the issues for white pupils. It is these white pupils whose attitudes are overwhelmingly important in creating community cohesion.
"Nor is there any advantage in creating confidence in minority ethnic pupils if it leaves white pupils feeling disenfranchised and resentful."
Slavery
The compulsory lessons in shared values for secondary school pupils which will be confirmed by Mr Johnson will include history topics.
At the moment, history is optional after the age of 14. The historical lessons could include topics such as slavery and the movement towards votes for all.
Mr Johnson will say Britain is a nation built from and by people from other countries.
"I believe passionately that schools can and should play a leading role in creating greater community cohesion and combating ignorance of other countries, religions and cultures," he will say.
"By 2010 one in five pupils in our schools will be from an ethnic minority - this is a challenge but also an opportunity to instil a culture of understanding and tolerance at an early age.
"The values our children learn at school will shape the kind of country Britain becomes."
BBC News article (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/6294643.stm)
In a word: ridiculous.